ESTACADO IS LOADED AND HAS A NEW LEADER FOR THEIR TEAM. DOES THIS EQUATE TO A 4TH ROUND APPEARANCE?

The Matadors were the only team in Lubbock ISD that made the playoffs in football last season. Their third round appearance was a great showing as well in a loss to Decatur that was close until the fourth quarter. They were led by Coach William Blaylock II for the last two years but he got a job close to home at CyFair ISD and once again, Estacado had to pick up the pieces and find their third head coach in the last seven years.

Enter in Eric Ward as the new Leader of the blue: a coach that has ties to this area as he played well for Texas Tech at wide receiver and will have a ton of experience and leadership to give these young men and women of Estacado for years to come.

Coach Ward didn’t have an empty cupboard either as he has one of the top athletes in Texas in his Senior year in Bobby Ross Jr. Cedric Ross, his brother in the 2026 class, also is one of the best athletes in Texas. There’s also one of the best lineman in Texas with Vershauundrick Smith; a 2027 prospect with three Division I offers already, heading into his Sophomore season. And another slept on prospect that should have an exceptional breakout season, and that’s James Bozeman! I’m really high on him; a young man with great work ethic and character!

Donivan Torrez and a host of ther players will take larger roles as the Matadors will have to replace a few solid contributors from 2023’s team. Here is a look at Estacado’s preview video, key players and their 2024 schedule. Good luck to the Matadors this season as we will be there to cover their first game of the season against Jom Ned at Lowery Field on August 29th at 7:05pm!